Ladder.



J. J. DENNIS.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 6, 190a.

Patented May 24, 1910 TED STATES ATNT @FFICE.

JOHN J'. DENNIS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, .aiiSIGNOB TO DENNIS NOVELTYLADDER COMPANY, A CGBPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

LADDER.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN J. DENNIS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ladders;and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders.

Step ladders as heretofore constructed have been cumbersome to handleand occupy considerable space when not in use which also causesinconvenience when moving the ladder.

It is an object of this invention to provide a collapsible laddercapable of being folded together to occupy small compass when not inuse.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device of the classspecified constructed of pressed metal and which is strong, durable,easily and quickly operated and so cheap to manufacture as to be withinthe reach of all users.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and morefully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

On the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a step ladderembodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a View of the ladder closed. Fig. 8 isan enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section taken centrally through thestiles and step. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan View of oneof the steps. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is asection on line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail of one of thebraces. Fig. 8 is a top plan view thereof.

As shown in said drawings: A indicates the stiles of the ladder whichmay be constructed in any preferred manner and material butas showncomprise inwardly facing pressed steel channel of light gage havingclosed ends and which at their lower or supporting ends are reduced inwidth. The steps likewise pressed channels may be of any preferrednumber, and distance apart and each consists of two sections a-a pro-Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 6, 1908.

Patented May 24, 1910.

Serial No. 419,470.

vided with downturned flanges a a at the edges thereof directed at anangle therewith dependent upon the angle of inclination of the stileswith the vertical when in open position. Lugs c a integral with theflanges at the outer ends of the sections are provided which closely fitwithin the side flanges of the stile and a pin 0 extends transverselythe stile and is rigidly secured to the side flanges thereof affording apivot for the outer end of each step section. The inner ends of thesections are provided with integral rounded lugs a a one fitting withinand one without the respective lugs of the other section and a pintle aextends through said lugs hinging the sections together.

Braces a "a each consisting of two slidably connected members wm arepivoted at their inner ends to the pintle a of the top and bottom stepsand at their lower ends on pins (4 secured to the flanges of the stiles.One of said brace members is provided at its inner end with a clasp 00which slidably engages the other and is longitudinally slotted toreceive a pin 50 which extends therethrough and seats in a notch.

Props or rear stiles B comprising light angle bars are hinged at theirupper ends to the upper ends of the stiles A, and as shown the flangesof said angle bars are turned inwardly at the top to form a lip 6through which the connecting pintle extends and the ends of the webs arecut away to permit the ends to swing outwardly as shown in Fig. 1.

Connecting straps b?) are pivoted at their outer ends to the respectiveprops or legs B and are hinged together at their inner ends. Braces b bconstructed as are the braces a a are pivoted at their inner ends onpins 6 engaged on the straps b-b and at their outer ends afiord apivotal connection with the stiles as do the outer ends of the braces aa Braces G of any suitable length one on each side the ladder are hingedat one end to the prop B and at the other end pivotally engage thestiles A and are hinged in the middle to open upwardly and act whenextended to firmly secure the ladder in adjusted position ready for use.

The operation is as follows: When desired to fold or close the ladderfrom the position shown in Fig. 1, the braces G are lifted at 'eachother, foldable steps pivoted at their the middle, closing the propsagainst the! stiles A. The ladder is then inverted and tapped lightly onthe floor. The braces b'*b a -a and the steps thereupon swing downwardlybringing the stiles together in very compact form as shown in Fig. 2with the step and all the braces except the braces C inclosed betweenthe same.

Asshown the device is embodied in a step ladder but it is obvious thatthe rear stiles or props may be omitted.

The braces C may of course be adjustable as to length if preferred asdescribed with reference to other braces.

Changes may be made and details may be varied without departing from theprinciple of my invention and I therefore do not purpose limiting thisapplication for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A foldable ladder comprising stiles, steps pivoted to the stiles,each step hinged centrally adapted to fold together, brace barspivotally connected at their outer ends to the stiles and pivotallyconnected at their inner ends to the steps, each brace barconconstructed of a plurality of parts and means connecting the parts topermit the parts sliding longitudinally.

2. In a device of the class described the combination with stiles ofsteps pivoted thereto and hinged centrally to permit the stiles to befolded together longitudinally and braces, each comprising a pluralityof sections connected to slide relatively of each other and bracing oneor more steps in open position.

3. In a step ladder stiles constructed of channel bars, props hingedthereto constructed of angle bars each adapted to fold against thestiles at one of the angles, horizontal bars connecting the props, eachhinged centrally to permit the props folding toward ends to the stilesadapted to fold in the channel bars, brace bars connecting the stilesand the steps centrally, brace bars connecting the props and thehorizontal bars, each brace bar constructed of a plurality of bars andmeans connecting the bars forming each brace bar. adapting each bracebar to extend longitudinally.

4. In a foldable ladder the combination with stiles, of steps hingedthereto and each step hinged centrally, adapting said stiles to movetoward and from each other and to fold and extend the stepscorrespondingly, brace bars comprising a plurality of parts pivoted tothe stiles and to the steps, and means for slidably connecting the partsof each brace bar.

J 5. In a device of the class described the combination with pressedmetal stiles of channel form, of steps foldable thereagainst and adaptedto be concealed in the channel bars when folded, brace bars for saidsteps, eachbrace bar extensible longitudinally and adapted. to fold insaid channel bars and to be concealed therein, props hinged to saidstiles and steps and capable of bein folded upon the stiles andlaterally upon each other.

(3. In a device of the class described the combination with front stilesof steps secured thereto, rear stiles or props hinged to the frontstiles, braces connecting said front stiles and the steps, barsconnecting the rear stiles, extensible brace bars connecting said barsand the rear stiles and all of the braces and brace bars automaticallycollapsible when the ladder is inverted to permit folding the ladder tosmall space.

7. In a ladder the combination with pressed steel stiles of stepssecured thereto adapted to fold thereagainst, props hinged to saidstiles, bars or straps connecting the props hinged centrally permittingthe props to fold relatively each other and extensible bars securing theprops and stiles the desired distance apart when open, each extensiblebar formed of a plurality of parts, one of said parts slotted and meanssecured to one of the parts for engaging in said slot.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN J. DENNIS.

Vitnesses K. E. HANNAH, J. W. ANGELL.

